State House Passes Education Budget

Alabama’s education budget has passed the state House. The House of Representatives unanimously approved the $6.4 billion budget proposal yesterday. Tuscaloosa Rep. Bill Poole says the budget will keep state schools mostly funded at the same levels as last year but provides some increases for K-12 schools. It also sets aside money to hire more than 150 more teachers in fourth through sixth grades. The proposal now heads back to the Senate, where it was previously stalled by a legislator who argued that more money should be spent on grade schools. Education in the state is largely funded by sales and income tax. The Alabama Department of Education says about 750,000 students attend its 1,467 schools.